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Oct. 11, 1955 H. 1.. THOMPSON TRUSS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 22, 1952 if Z 7% INVENTOR. ar y BY 0722 061022 H. L. THOMPSON 2,720,202

TRUSS Oct. 11, 1955 Filed April 22, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N VEN TOR.

fle zrjy 720122 17502 United States Patent Ofiice 2,720,202 Patented Oct. 11, 1955 2,720,202 TRUSS a This invention relates to rupture appliances and more particularly to a truss structure effective in resiliently supporting a ruptured area without discomfort to the user.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a. truss embodying one or more pads mounted intermediate the ends of a resilient or fieXural strip member for yieldable engagement against a ruptured area, the ends of the strip member being bowed inwardly toward the abdomen by means of an elastic belt to provide a sustaining pressure to the ruptured area. regardless of the position of the user.

This invention further contemplates the provision of a. truss structure in which one or more pads are adjustably positioned along the resilient strip and then clamped in adjusted position, the means employed for clamping the pads in fixed position also permitting angular adjustment of elongated pads relative to the strip member to dispose the pads in proper position to most effectively support the injured area.

This invention further contemplates the provision of a truss structure effective in applying a resilient or flexural supporting action to a ruptured area without the assistance of leg bands, crotch straps, metal body encircling springs and the like, except in extreme cases. In the present structure, a single elastic belt coacts with a resilient strip member to urge a pad inwardly and upwardly against the ruptured area, thus providing a relatively light weight truss adapted to be readily applied and adjusted to suit the user.

This invention further contemplates the provision of a truss pad comprising a resilient rubber cap detachably connected to a backing plate to permit disassembly of the parts for cleaning, the cap and backing plate having. complementary sealing surfaces and defining an air chambe: in which the air is compressed responsive to external pressure applied to the cap.

a This invention further contemplates the provision of a truss. which is relatively simple and inexpensive in. construction and efficient and durable in use.

This invention embodies other novel features, details of construction and arrangements of parts which are hereinafter set forth in the specification and claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of truss embodying features of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of same;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an explosion view illustrating a modified form of clamp for securing the pad. in adjusted position onthe resilient metal strip;

Figure 6 is a plan view of the modified form of clamp;

Figure 7 is a transversre section taken along the line 7-7 of Figure 6; and

Figure 8 is a front elevational view illustrating another modified form of this invention.

Referring now to the drawing for a better understanding of the present invention and more particularly to Figures 1 to 4 therein, the truss is shown as comprising a resilient or flexural strip member 2, generally constructed of spring steel, aluminum or brass, or laminated or molded plastic materials, including thermo-setting resins, namely the phenolic and the urea plastics and the thermoplastic resins, namely the polyamide and the vinyl resins, having its ends mounted within pockets 3-3 formed in the ends of a non-elastic fabric retainer 4 which may be reinforced along its front face by a flexible strip of leather 6 stitched thereto.

A hook 7 formed of sheet metal is secured to one end of the retainer 4 by rivets or other type of fasteners for detachable engagement with awire loop 8 mounted on one end of an elastic strap 9, the other end of the strap being stitched at 11 to the end of the retainer, It, will be noted that the retainer 4 and elastic strap 9 form a. strap or belt 12 with pockets 3-3 to receive the ends of the strip member 2, and further that the strip member 2 may be bowed to insert or withdraw its ends from the pockets 3-3 to facilitate assembly or disassembly of the truss. The strip member 2a may be securely attached at its ends to the strap or belt 43.

Pads 14, singular or a plurality depending on the physical. requirements of the user, may be detachably mounted upon the strip member 2 to engage and support ruptured areas, each, pad 14 being shown as comprising a backing plate 16 and a cap 17. The backing plate 16 is formed with an annular flange 18 having a lip 19 for snug air-tight engagement within an annular groove 21 formed in the cap 17, and is preferably molded of a suitable plastic or thermoplastic material.

The cap 17 is formed of resilient rubber to yieldably resist forces acting to press the cap 17 toward the backing plate; and it will be noted that the cap 17 and plate define an air chamber 22 in which the air is compressed responsive to collapse of the cap 17 to thus provide an air cushion. It will be understood that the pad may be of any conventional shape to conform to the area of the abdomen to be supported.

A metal friction plate 23 is secured to the backing plate 16 by means of screws 24 and houses an inner washer 25 having threaded apertures to receive a pair of cap screws 26-26 disposed to straddle and to clamp the strip memher 2 between a pair of washers 28 and 29 formed with apertures to receive the cap screws 26, the washers 25 and 28 being connected for relative movement by a rivet 30. By merely loosening. and tightening the screws 26-26, the pads 141-14 may be adjustably positioned along the strip member 2. to suit the user, and pads of non-circular shape may be angularly adjusted relative to the member 2 and each other to properly position the pads 14 over the injured areas.

To afford greater comfort to the user and to prevent chafing, a pair of relatively thick soft felt pads 27-27 are stitched to the inner side of the retainer 4 at the ends thereof, adjacent ends of the pads being disposed at the openings to their related pockets 3-3.

Referring now to Figures 5, 6 and 7 in the drawings, a modified form of clamp for a pad 14 is shown as. comprising a, metal friction plate 23 secured to a backing plate 16 by screws 24 and housing. an inner washer 25 having threaded apertures to receive the threaded ends of shoulder screws 31 and 32. A washer 28, connected to the. washer 25 by a rivet 3% is disposed against the outer face of the friction plate 23 and formed with aperturesto receive the screws 31 and 32, the washers 25 and 28 being movable into tight frictional engagement against opposite sides of the friction plate by tightening the screws.

adapted to be engaged to pivot the wedge into and out of locking position without the use of tools to move the pad 14 along the strip member 2.

' Figure 8 illustrates another modified form of this invention in which the pads 14-14 are adjustably positioned on a resilient strip 2a bent at its ends to form hooks 41 for detachable engagement with Wire loops 4242 secured to opposite ends of an elastic strap 43. This form of the invention is otherwise similar to the forms heretofore shown and described.

In the use of the truss, it will be noted that the pads 1414 may be moved to desired position along the strip member 2 and then urged against the ruptured areas by means of the elastic belt 12, and further that the ends of the resilient strip member 2 are bowed inwardly toward the abdomen of the user by the force exerted thereon by the belt and thus act to insure proper yieldable support for the ruptured areas regardless of the position assumed by the user.

While this invention has been shown in several forms, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a truss, a retainer of flexible material having spaced opposed pockets adjacent the ends thereof, a flexural strip member having its ends engaged within said pockets, a pad mounted on said strip member intermediate the ends thereof to engage a ruptured area, and an elastic strap to engage the ends of said retainer to form a band, said strap acting to bow the ends of said flexural strip member toward the abdomen of the user.

2. In a truss, a flexural retainer having spaced pockets, a flexural strip member of greater width than thickness engaged at its ends within said pockets, apad mounted on said strip to engage a ruptured area, means to adjust the position of said pad relative to said strip member, and elastic means engaging the ends of said retainer and coacting therewith to bow the ends of said strip member toward the abdomen of the user to flexurally support the pad against a ruptured area.

3. A truss according to claim 2 in which the retainer extends along the outer side of said strip member, and is reinforced by a strap stitched thereto.

4. In a truss, a flexural strip member to support a pad, a pad supported on said strip, a flexible retainer extending along said strip and having pockets to receive the ends of said strip member, and elastic means engaging the ends of said retainer to form a belt, said elastic means and retainer coacting with said pad to bow the flexural strip member toward the abdomen of the user to flexurally support a ruptured area.

5. In a truss, a flexural strip member to support a pad, pads affixed to said strip, a flexible retainer extending along said strip and having pockets to receive the ends of said strip member, and elastic means engaging the ends of said retainer to form a belt, said elastic means and retainer coacting with said pads to bow the flexural strip member toward the abdomen of the user to flexurally support a ruptured area, and relatively soft pads stitched to the ends of said retainer adjacent said pockets.

6. In a truss, a flexural strip member to support a pad, a pad aflixed to said strip, a flexible retainer extending along said strip and having pockets to receive the ends of said strip member, elastic means engaging the ends of said retainer to form a belt, said elastic means and retainer coacting with said pad to bow the flexural strip member toward the abdomen of the user to flexurally support a ruptured area, and fastening means to detachably secure said pad in said strip member for adjustment longitudinally and angularly thereof.

7. In a truss, a flexural strip member to support a pad, pads supported on said strip, a flexible retainer extending along said strip and having pockets to receive the ends of said strip member, elastic means engaging the ends of said retainer to form a belt, said elastic means and retainer coacting with said pads to bow the flexural strip member toward the abdomen of the user to flexurally support a ruptured area, fastening means to detachably secure said pads on said strip member for adjustment longitudinally and angularly thereof, said fastening means including an apertured friction plate for mounting on a pad, a pair of friction washers engaging opposite sides of said plate and formed with apertures, a locking plate having apertures, and a pair of screws extending through the apertures in said locking plate, one of said washers and friction plate for threaded engagement in the apertures of the other of said washers.

8. In a truss, a flexural strip member to support a pad, a pad supported thereon, a flexible retainer extending along said strip and having pockets to receive the ends of said strip member, elastic means engaging the ends of said retainer to form a belt, said elastic means and retainer coacting with said pad to bow the resilient strip member toward the abdomen of the user to flexurally support a ruptured area, fastening means to detachably secure said pad in said strip member for adjustment longitudinally and angularly thereof, said fastening means comprising an apertured friction plate, inner and outer washers engaging opposite sides of said plate, a pair of shoulder screws shouldered against the outer washer and threaded into the inner washer to frictionally engage said plate between said washers, a locking plate pivotally mounted on one screw and formed with a slot receiving the other screw, and a wedge element pivoted on said one screw for wedging engagement between said locking plate and said flexural strip.

9. In a truss, a flexural strip member to support a pad, pads supported thereon, a flexible retainer extending along said strip and having pockets to receive the ends of said strip member, elastic means engaging the ends of said retainer to form a belt, said elastic means and retainer coacting with said pads to bow the flexural strip member toward the abdomen of the user to resiliently support a ruptured area, fastening means to detachably secure said pads in said strip member for adjustmentlongitudinally and'angularly thereof, said fastening means comprising an apertured friction plate, a pair of shoulder screws shouldered against the outer washer and threaded into the inner washer to frictionally engage said plate between said washers, a locking plate pivotally mounted on one screw and formed with a slot receiving the other screw, a wedge element pivoted on said one screw for wedging engagement between said locking plate and said resilient strip, and a flange on said wedge element engageable to pivot the latter into and out of engagement between said locking plate and flexural strip.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 995,864 Haehn June 20, 1911 1,052,523 Sillin Feb. 11, 1913 2,239,616 Mergehenn et a1 Apr. 22., 1941 2,372,010 Raw Mar. 20, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 470,870 France June 26, 1914 

